Preparations to make before scheduling your bathroom/kitchen remodel

St. Louis Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling

You’ve finally made the decision. You now have enough money to transform your dingy, unattractive kitchen or bathroom into a masterpiece of interior design. So you shop around for remodeling contractors, and you dream about the gleaming cabinets, gorgeous tile floor, and spacious atmosphere the new room will have.

However, before you book a remodel date with your preferred contractor, you have to prepare your family and your home. A remodel is a worthwhile interruption, but it interrupts your living arrangements and your schedule nonetheless. Make sure your family can weather this disruption by taking the preparatory steps listed below.

1. Find temporary living arrangements, if necessary.

Depending on your desired changes, your remodel could take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Simple cosmetic changes like new fixtures, new paint, and new flooring may only take a few days. But if you want to expand the space, install custom cabinets, and reroute the plumbing inside your walls, the renovation will take longer.

You’ll need to ensure your family still has access to a bathroom or kitchen in the meantime. If you don’t have additional bathrooms, you may have to stay with a family member or a friend until the remodel reaches completion.

You also have options even if you don’t have an extra kitchen or dining area. You could move a microwave and a mini fridge into a corner, use your outdoor grill, or eat at restaurants. Just make sure your budget can accommodate repeated evenings at cafés and steak houses.

However, if you can’t do any of these things, you should arrange to live with someone who has a functioning kitchen.

2. Pack at least two weeks of clothing and other essentials.

You’ll want to prepare if you’re leaving your home during the construction. Before the remodel, have your family members pack bags of clothing, toiletries, and other items. This bag should contain enough essentials to keep everyone comfortable for at least two weeks. Simply wash clothes and replace toiletries as you use them.

That being said, if you have a smaller remodel in mind, only pack enough essentials for the few days you’ll spend outside your home.

3. Move all of your belongings out of the remodel space.

Your renovation crew shouldn’t double as your moving crew. Move everything out of your kitchen or bathroom (including décor) and store it in your basement or attic. If you don’t have enough space there, rent a storage unit.

Additionally, move everything out of the path the crew will take between the remodel area and your front door. You don’t want them to trip and either injure themselves or break their tools and materials. You also don’t want dust to get all over your furniture and décor.

4. Purchase safety equipment for your family.

If you decide to live in your home during the remodel, you need equipment to keep your family safe. Like any construction project, a remodel comes with certain risks, like dusty air, falling items, sharp objects on the floor, and tripping hazards.

Safeguard your family from these dangers and more by having them wear the following:

• • • Helmets or hard hats
    • Shoes with thick soles
    • Face masks

You and your family members only have to wear these things when you go in or near the remodel area.

5. Find ways to deal with the noise.

Remodels also make a lot of noise, which might distract your children from their homework or keep you from getting some needed relaxation. Invest in some earplugs and noise-canceling headphones to stay comfortable until your new kitchen or bathroom reaches completion.

Once you’ve made the steps above, you can schedule your kitchen or bathroom remodel with confidence. Contact our remodeling contractors for more specific tips on how to prepare your home for your personal project. Call 314-739-4443.